Crazy Boxster prices - who’s buying them?

[W12GT]

I’ve just had a look on Porsche approved cars and noticed that there are a number Boxsters advertised for £200k.

Ok they are limited edition 718 model but we all know they are a boxster. So who in their right mind is willing to pay £200k for one?

I remember buying a 2year old Boxster S for £17k from an OPC about 12years ago, 1owner, ultra low miles. Cracking car. Similar car now £62k.

Car market is still crazy. £200k funds a very nice collection and variety of cars.

[Youforreal.]

Spyder 4rs posssibly, if not, got any link to said cars?

[W12GT]

[Caddyshack]

The spider RS is not really “a Boxster” in terms of what I would consider a Boxster to be….i recently had a Boxster 987.1, 3.2s bought for 8k and sold for 8k, I guess that was a 50k car new.

It does seem a huge amount to pay for what a lot of people will see as just a Boxster but these are quite special cars.

[R33FAL]

Haha, first post i have seen comparing a new Spyder RS to a 20 year old Boxster and asking why one costs 20x the other.

Chapeau.

[W12GT]

R33FAL said:

Haha, first post i have seen comparing a new Spyder RS to a 20 year old Boxster and asking why one costs 20x the other.

Chapeau.

Because it’s still a Boxster?

Plus your maths needs a little practice on both age and value.

[Charlie_1]

W12GT said:

R33FAL said:

Haha, first post i have seen comparing a new Spyder RS to a 20 year old Boxster and asking why one costs 20x the other.

Chapeau.

Because it’s still a Boxster?

Plus your maths needs a little practice on both age and value.

putting aside values so lets say a current Boxster S , if you think thats in anyway similar to a Spyder RS well you could give Joe Biden a run for his money

[PaulD86]

These are both called Capri




These are both houses




There is more to what something is than its name.

[Orangecurry]

PaulD86 said:

That is not a house - it's a dog's dinner. If you want to use it in a car comparison thing thread, this is a very expensive restomod, that turned-out badly.

(hope it isn't yours )

[Quickmoose]

W12GT said:

R33FAL said:

Haha, first post i have seen comparing a new Spyder RS to a 20 year old Boxster and asking why one costs 20x the other.

Chapeau.

Because it’s still a Boxster?

Plus your maths needs a little practice on both age and value.

A little digging in what a Boxster actually is will explain things a bit, in as much as a lot of people get caught up in model line up marketing and price point.
ie "oh the Boxster is cheaper than the 911 and doesn't have as much power...that means it's "worse"... or "not as status-y"
This was all done by Porsche, for numerous reasons.
It wanted to expand it's line up. Expand the customer base, increase profit. There's zero point in having two model ranges with the same performance.
The most cost effective (profitable) way of doing this was using the 911 almost wholesale, putting a new body on it, offering smaller engines or de-tuned "911" units and charging less (as the development and tooling was already done)
Now there's no denying the 911 heritage and iconography, or even its performance.
The one thing that's always set it apart but actually hampered it a bit of late was it's engine position. Most race engineers acknowledge that a mid engine'd layout is preferable... so a Boxster isn't the poor relation in that regard.

The singular thing then that really needs to be bared in mind is that for each generation (save the 718) the Boxster has been the relevant 911 underneath.
986 was a 996
987 was a 997
981 (and 718) was a 991

An Aussie bloke bought a 981 and loved it so much he bought an insurance write off to take apart and understand.
Everything* from the seats forwards (aside form the bodywork and dashboard) has a 991 part number.
Even the interior dimensions are the same.
Behind the rear seats is basically a swap around... a 911 is space and engine, the Boxster is engine and then space...
The software that runs the thing for each generation has 911 coding - until it comes to the ECU for power outputs as the Boxster was never allowed to tread on 911 toes.

So you see, not only is the Boxster(Cayman) not "just" or "still" anything, it actually represents the best, especially for vfm, and especially if you don't need the space for small children or pets.
Considering what's on offer it could be argued that the smarter money goes on the Boxster product....to get a 500hp GT open top product with a 911 moniker would take CONSIDERABLY more than £200k.
I'd also argue if you wanted an open top Porsche full stop the Boxster offers way better looks (subjective I know)

I feel it's only how it makes you feel in front of other like minded types that 'you'd' use the term "still just a Boxster".... as a lover of driving, design and engineering, mine isn't "just" or "still" anything... I prefer terms such as "relative bargain" or "smart choice".

• I haven't watched it for a while, if not "everything" its an absolute shed load

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8RDTsr9POA

Edited by Quickmoose on Friday 12th July 10:04

[PaulD86]

Orangecurry said:

That is not a house - it's a dog's dinner. If you want to use it in a car comparison thing thread, this is a very expensive restomod, that turned-out badly.

(hope it isn't yours )

I can confirm not mine. Mine is more tasteful. And smaller.

[MrBen.911]

I guess it's like asking why does a GT3 RS cost way more than an equivalent 911 Carrera?

The Spyder RS is effectively a convertible version of the Cayman GT4 RS - a very capable motor car, and very different to a base model 718, as good as those are.

[Voodoo Blue]

Having seen what can be achieved by the factory with the Cayster and a N/A 4.0 motor a punter with no bias either way could easily conclude that buying a 911 is equally mistifying.

[kmpowell]

W12GT said:

I’ve just had a look on Porsche approved cars and noticed that there are a number Boxsters advertised for £200k.

Ok they are limited edition 718 model but we all know they are a boxster. So who in their right mind is willing to pay £200k for one?

I remember buying a 2year old Boxster S for £17k from an OPC about 12years ago, 1owner, ultra low miles. Cracking car. Similar car now £62k.

Car market is still crazy. £200k funds a very nice collection and variety of cars.

Uh-oh, school's out for the summer...

[Steve H]

kmpowell said:

Uh-oh, school's out for the summer...

Must have failed quite a few years

[Ed.Neumann]

I think it is a good point, the fact we now have Boxsters at £200k at an OPC.

If you had said that would happen around the time the last generation had launched people would have thought you're mad.

The world has gone a bit nuts. The 911 GT3 was £81k list back in 2010, the RS was £104k and could be leased for £1200 a month.


Things have changed very, very quickly.



The fact a 2 year old Boxster S could be had for £17k is also crazy of course, but was the back end of 2010. But they listed for £44k and could be had for just under £40k new.


I think it is a fair comment, only yesterday it seemed like the Boxster was the baby Porsche, now it seems to be an alternative with some of the best engines Porsche has to offer in it and a price tag to match.

[pbe624]

I think second hand values might get a little boost as Porsche announced that for Europe, it's game over for Boxster and Cayman as of mid 2025, as they cannot / don't want to meet the new car cybersecurity rules from the EU... (see same story for the Macan).

Maybe UK will still get them as one of the Brexit benefits... :-)

[Caddyshack]

kmpowell said:

W12GT said:

I’ve just had a look on Porsche approved cars and noticed that there are a number Boxsters advertised for £200k.

Ok they are limited edition 718 model but we all know they are a boxster. So who in their right mind is willing to pay £200k for one?

I remember buying a 2year old Boxster S for £17k from an OPC about 12years ago, 1owner, ultra low miles. Cracking car. Similar car now £62k.

Car market is still crazy. £200k funds a very nice collection and variety of cars.

Uh-oh, school's out for the summer...

It is actually a sensible post, you could buy a 987 Boxster S for £15k, a nice Elise for £20k, Old Jag or Roller for 25k, lovely 2014 Range Rover of some sort...and so on...if you have the space it is a good way to enjoy lots of cars. Horses for courses. We have 6 cars and the total value for all of them is easily under £200k

[stichill99]

I agree that it is a sensible post and question. I still live in the world where £200k is a house and not a boxster. And this from a man who bought a 30 month old 987 2,7 in 2008 for £20'500. Now people are paying more than that for a bloody 10 year old 2.7 boxster!!!!!!

[av185]

pbe624 said:

I think second hand values might get a little boost as Porsche announced that for Europe, it's game over for Boxster and Cayman as of mid 2025, as they cannot / don't want to meet the new car cybersecurity rules from the EU... (see same story for the Macan).

Maybe UK will still get them as one of the Brexit benefits... :-)

Last run Spyder RS and GT4 RS early/mid next year.